TWO secondary schools in Redcar and Cleveland are celebrating the award of Government cash for building work.

Freebrough Community College will be rebuilt after £5m was awarded to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

No decision has been taken by the council on the site for the new school.

College principal Diane Edwards said: "This is wonderful news. We can now make the first firm footsteps towards our vision of a new school for east Cleveland."

West Redcar Community School has secured £575,000 for an arts centre, which will provide dance, music and drama facilities, as part of the school's bid for Specialist Status in Visual and Performing Arts.

Headteacher Stewart Rees said: "I am absolutely thrilled. We will be adding a public performance space to the bid to provide a top-class arts facility for the community of Redcar."

The council's director of education, Jenny Lewis, said: "This is excellent news for Freebrough Community College and West Redcar School.

"Both schools have a very clear vision of how they want to dramatically improve the learning environment.

"These grants are essential to helping the schools achieve this vision and is very welcome."